Apache Lake

AVisit to Apache Lake PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE AUTHOR

Apache Lake, a masterpiece created by the combined efforts of man and nature, lies deep in a setting of delicately colored, massive stone buttes, terraced mesas and boldly outlined mountains seventy-five miles east of Phoenix on the Salt River. It is only one of a chain of man-made lakes on the Salt. It is neither the largest nor the smallest but since it has a good combination of the better qualities of all of them let's go to Apache Lake on a visit. I would be very glad to show you around. It's a fine Arizona day for an outing up in that rugged Salt River country rich in legend of the once savage Apache, lost gold mines, and adventures of early cattlemen and sheepmen. If while gazing into the maze of rocky gorges you catch an imaginary glimpse of a band of mounted, war-bedecked Apaches or the weary form of a trudging prospector and his patient little burros, it might truly be a fleeting glimpse into the past for in that country such imagination is but an afterimage separated from fact only by a few infinitesimal decades.

A lot of people say they have seen Apache Lake after they have driven above a portion of it on the Apache Trail. I thought I had seen it, too, after my first time over the trail, but that's like having seen a book. There's more to it than the cover. It's to be opened and read. But then there are so many points of interest along the Apache Trail that it would be impossible to do them all justice in one day.

I have even missed seeing Apache Lake when I was sitting in a boat right on it, but the bass up there were the cause of that. My eyes were always on the water watching a plug wiggle back after each cast with those big fellows fooling around with it just often enough to keep me from seeing much of anything but water until it was 'most dark and time to go.

Today it will be different. Let's leave the tackle at home. We can rent one of those outboard powered boats at the boat landing and cruise through a section of Arizona grandeur that just isn't seen any other way.

Before we get there I might tell you a little about how Apache Lake came to be. The Salt River, named for its slightly saline quality picked up from salt springs and salt beds over which it flows, was too erratic without control to be an efficient source of irrigation even for the first white settlers who as early as 1867 farmed around the general Phoenix area. At one time it might be raging and flood swollen with spring runoff and then there were dry spells when it was scarcely a trickle.

In 1911 under the Reclamation Act the U. S. Government completed Roosevelt Dam at the junction of Tonto Creek and the Salt River to store and regulate these waters. In 1917 for an agreement to repay the government the construction costs of Roosevelt Dam, Granite Reef Dam (a lower diversion dam) and a system of canals, the Salt River Project was turned over to the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association representing the landowners who depend on this water for irrigation.

Between 1922 and 1930 in order to further increase storage facilities of the Salt and also supply additional electric power for rapidly growing Arizona communities, three more reservoirs below Roosevelt Dam and above Granite Reef Dam were constructed by the association. These lakes were backed up by Stewart Mountain, Mormon Flat, and Horse Mesa dams. Horse Mesa Dam is man's contribution to the creation of Apache Lake.

APACHE LAKE FOREST CAMP

Here we are at the turnoff and below is 2,600 acres of winding Apache Lake, 17 miles long. There is plenty of room allotted for camping or there are cabins available but that won't concern us this trip since we are only here for the day. However, there is a nice little lunch counter down there in case you care for some breakfast before taking in all that fresh air and sunshine out on the lake. You'll nearly always find fishermen here at the landing this time of the morning checking over gear, getting outfitted with a boat, and ever-anxious to try their skill with the casting rod . . . aching to plunk those bright colored plugs along choice bits of shoreline right in front of a five-pounder's nose. Let us get lined up with a boat, too, and start looking Apache Lake over.

I find a great deal of pleasure in seeing the expressions on the faces of these fellows when they are starting out with a full day of fishing ahead, leaving the daily work routine far behind. Take a look at those two happy guys in the boat in back of us . . . feelin' like a couple of kids on Saturday morning. A whole new day ahead, a beautiful world. a big box of lunch and gear, poles and plugs ready to go and an "Oh, brother! What a wonderful life" expression splashed all over the place.

When you feel like stretching your legs ashore, there are lots of quiet, lonely coves to leave the boat in while a short hike or even a little campfire and a pot of coffee is enjoyed.

There is something here for everyone whether his interest lies in beauty, birds, butterflies, bass, flowers, rocks, or just plain drifting along quietly, up to his ears in peace.

Looking down the 300 ft. spiral stairway on the face of the dam is enough to make anyone a bit dizzy.

Except for the power plant road the canyon below the dam looks the same as it has for centuries.

Looking back across the lake, that boat with the fishermen looks tiny against nature's massive back-drop.

Here we are in the settling dusk, back where we started from. A few fishermen are in ahead of us but judging by the many parked cars there are still a fair number of boats out.

The sunset lingers to light our last look at Apache Lake, and to reflect her splendor in this silvery mirror where the Salt rests on its journey to the rich irrigated farm lands below.

Tucson was a raw village in the desert when Albert Steinfeld arrived there as a youth to begin an illustrious business career.operations, and thus the towns of Ray and Hayden became important communities.

ALBERT STEINFELD, MERCHANT...

Steinfeld was the fiscal agent and managed the affairs of the Copper Queen Mining Company properties at Bisbee. The main offices were in the old Steinfeld's store on Main Street, and the sign "Copper Queen Mining Company" over Mr. Steinfeld's office is still remembered by oldtimers. All of the ores were sold through his office.

Albert Steinfeld employed a local mining engineer, Professor James Douglas, to make a report for him on these mines and the surrounding properties. As a result, Professor Douglas, with the consent of Mr. Steinfeld, endeavored to place the claims with large Eastern capitalists. The Phelps Dodge people were induced to acquire the property for $10,000.00, though they were not mining people then. One of the considerations was that Professor Douglas would represent the Phelps Dodge and take stock to the extent of $1,000.00, which represented the commission he otherwise would have received from Mr. Steinfeld, and which money he sorely needed at the time. This transaction was the beginning of the history of the Phelps Dodge Company in Arizona.

The Silver Bell operated under the Imperial Company and later acquired by the American Smelting and Refining Company, the famous old Mowry mine. Also, Yellow Jack and Globe properties are other evidences of the extent of Mr. Steinfeld's operations in developing the mining resources of Arizona.

Agriculture was another necessity in the development of the territory that was recognized by Albert Steinfeld. He was one of the originators of the Montezuma Canal controlling the irrigation system of the Upper Gila River. He farmed and developed large holdings near Fort Thomas, in Graham County, which later developed into a large Mormon settlement. He was identified with the early farming development of the Casa Grande Valley and was responsible in developing the Santa Cruz Valley north of Tucson by acquiring many thousands of acres of unproductive desert land and then seeking capital to develop and reclaim the acreage to productivity. The beautiful and prosperous farms around Cortaro and Marana, north of Tucson, are the result of his vision and courage. Many more smaller examples of his early development of farm lands are represented by some of the show places of today, which later had been acquired by new residents from the east.

It was natural that he should also become interested in the cattle industry, which was second to mining in the early days of Albert Steinfeld's business activities. He knew all the old cattlemen personally. Whenever these men had to be assisted financially or be carried from season to season, until they sold their steers and old cows, and many times through drought, Albert Steinfeld was the man to see. Help was always intelligently accorded to these men who were the backbone of the area. Later, as a banker he expanded his usefulness to the cattle industry. His bank was headquarters for cattle financing. He, personally, at one time was one of the largest cattle operators in Arizona. Much of the acreage starting at the present Ajo and Sasabe roads south to the Mexican border was his range, range land he carefully managed.

A great merchant is of necessity a banker, so it was not a difficult transition for Albert Steinfeld to accept his election to the presidency of the Consolidated National Bank. When Mr. Merrill P. Freeman, president of the bank, which at that time was the leading banking institution in Tucson, decided to retire in December, 1910, he selected Mr. Steinfeld to succeed him. Under Mr. Steinfeld's stewardship, the Consolidated National Bank became the second largest banking institution in the state of Arizona. As a banker he was in a position to aid and assist to a greater extent the old business enterprises with which he was familiar and the newer ones which were starting with the development of the state. Men who required counsel and advice came from all over the Southwest to avail themselves of Mr. Steinfeld's wisdom. These men received the personal courteous attention of Mr. Steinfeld, and their problems were his pleasure and responsibility to solve. Mr. Steinfeld's bank weathered all financial storms and was always recognized as one of the strongest banks in the southwest. Today, the Valley National Bank's branch in Tucson is the outcome of the old Consolidated National Bank, laid on the strong foundations built by Albert Steinfeld many years ago. In 1928 Albert Steinfeld, realizing that Tucson was in dire need of a new first class hotel, determined to correct this situation irrespective of the fact that he felt that he had done his share of pioneering. It was his thought to start the construction of the hotel with the hopes that he would be ableto dispose of it before its completion as he did not want to be called upon either to operate or supply the management for such a large and new undertaking. The construction of the Pioneer Hotel resulted and, as Mr. Steinfeld had hoped, the property was sold to outside capitalists before its completion. This, however, turned out to be only a temporary retirement from the hotel business. In 1929 the crash in the stock market carried down the new owners of the Pioneer and Mr. Steinfeld had to reacquire the Pioneer and he and his estate have been the owners and operators ever since, Harold Steinfeld succeeding his father as President in 1935. Albert Steinfeld demonstrated his faith in the future of Tucson and Southern Arizona by the continuous acquisition of undeveloped real estate in the area, out of surplus savings, all through his life. He improved much of it. He was a great developer. He had the vision and courage of the pioneer, and he backed up his judgment with his earnings. All his investments were in Arizona. When Mr. Steinfeld died in 1935, he owned some fifteen or twenty improved down town business properties, including the Pioneer Hotel, four separate buildings in the business district devoted to his own mercantile interests, 3000 lots in the city of Tucson and thousands of acres of land throughout Southern Arizona. No man in Arizona ever owned as many parcels of land. Albert Steinfeld's first and lasting devotion was for the retail department store business, and that business always received his primary attention. Yet, in addition to his interests in mining, ranching, banking and real estate, he develto dispose of it before its completion as he did not want to be called upon either to operate or supply the management for such a large and new undertaking. The construction of the Pioneer Hotel resulted and, as Mr. Steinfeld had hoped, the property was sold to outside capitalists before its completion. This, however, turned out to be only a temporary retirement from the hotel business. In 1929 the crash in the stock market carried down the new owners of the Pioneer and Mr. Steinfeld had to reacquire the Pioneer and he and his estate have been the owners and operators ever since, Harold Steinfeld succeeding his father as President in 1935. Albert Steinfeld demonstrated his faith in the future of Tucson and Southern Arizona by the continuous acquisition of undeveloped real estate in the area, out of surplus savings, all through his life. He improved much of it. He was a great developer. He had the vision and courage of the pioneer, and he backed up his judgment with his earnings. All his investments were in Arizona. When Mr. Steinfeld died in 1935, he owned some fifteen or twenty improved down town business properties, including the Pioneer Hotel, four separate buildings in the business district devoted to his own mercantile interests, 3000 lots in the city of Tucson and thousands of acres of land throughout Southern Arizona. No man in Arizona ever owned as many parcels of land. Albert Steinfeld's first and lasting devotion was for the retail department store business, and that business always received his primary attention. Yet, in addition to his interests in mining, ranching, banking and real estate, he devel-

oped allied branches of his mercantile business to include the wholesale grocery business with branches in many communities; a wholesale drygoods division, principal volume of which was in Mexico. He was in the hide business and wholesale liquor business. He even manufactured tobacco mixture for roll-your-own cigarettes. He owned and operated an iron works, along with a machine shop and foundry; a brick plant that also manufactured hollow building tile and roofing tile. All these enterprises were necessary in the building of the territory, and Albert Steinfeld provided them. Upon the development of the area depended the successful growth and usefulness of the retail department store.

By 1914, Albert Steinfeld had completed a cycle of empire building that had grown into an amazing colossus with ramifications reaching out to every industry that has made the Southwest the fabulous place it is today and to which thousands are winging their way to spend their lives in work and rest and peace-and yet it was a means to the end in the fulfillment of his dream of building a great retail department store. In that year he turned over the management of his enterprises to his son, Harold Steinfeld, and settled down to enjoy the fruits of his labors as the mere president of the company. In 1925, he announced his "retirement" and immediately began to re-focus his energies, imagination and skill toward the same old dream goal of the Southwest's greatest retail department store. Plans were drawn for a completely new store to be built within the shell of the new one he had built in 1905. During the early 30's when the depression was at its worst and many skilled craftsmen were ready for relief rolls, between 40 and 50 men were employed to produce new fixtures that would harmonize with the character of the store and at the same time give employment to many competent oldtimers. In 1935, the job was completed. The entire store had been given a major face lifting. The front was rebuilt and modernized, and the people of all the southwest came to inspect southern Arizona's largest and most beautiful department store and to congratulate their old friend, Albert Steinfeld, "Uncle Albert," as he was affectionately called by many, was finally satisfied with his work, and he did retire on February 8, 1935, and the solemn ritual of Masonry's Funeral Service, with neither pomp nor ceremony, was performed for him by the Tucson Lodge No. 4 Free and Accepted Masons. Fifty-four years he had been a Mason and was the Dean of Tucson's Scottish Rite bodies until his death.

At the graveside, members of the lodge filed around in procession, each depositing a sprig of evergreen in the grave he had passed. "Soft and safe to you, my Brother, be